Table of Contents - VU-DARE Home

chasten me above measure, though I had some more than common pains in my
bowels and stomach. I was detained from preaching last Lord’s Day, but my dear
colleague preached to full satisfaction, and I am not without hopes of recovery.
Oh, may this new appearance of the Lord’s mercy and grace be the happy means
of silencing unbelieving thoughts and quieting my restless mind in Jesus Christ.
May my health and strength be restored, and I to the service of His Sanctuary.
Mr. John Newton 576 ’s sermons have been also blessed to me and established my
heart with respect of my preaching the truth as it is in Jesus, and of my hope in
pardoning mercy and grace. O, Lord, remember not my sins, my innumerable
sins, past and present. Forgive them all, and give peace and joy in believing,
patience also, and prudence and wisdom to those who are yet strangers to affective
providences. Increase my humble faith against all the insults and assaults of Hell
and Earth, and let all things work together for our real good. May my family be
pitied, and we rejoice in hope. Amen.
6. Yesterday I wrote to Dr. Livingston about the congregations in the Boght and
Niskayuna, and intimated that probably Dominee Schoonmaker 577 would be the
man proper for them. I desire to wait on further mercies, also for that people,
whilst I desire to see the prosperity of Zion throughout the country, especially at
Saratoga. May I live to finish that business, and rejoice in the success of the
gospel. O, Father of mercies, pity me in my present disease, and restore me to the
service of Thy Sanctuary. Heal our backslidings, and love us freely and
mercifully. Deliver from all and every sin and temptation. May I watch and pray,
and the Lord Jesus be my shield and help against every fiery dart of the Wicked
One. May Thy strength be made perfect in our weaknesses, and our spiritual
enemies be confounded. Oh, may the Spirit of grace and power rest upon and
work in us, and we come off victorious through the precious blood of Jesus Christ,
our Lord. Blessed Jesus, restore former comforts and graces, and increase
patience and confidence in Thee as mighty to save to the uttermost, preserved
from all evil work, and sanctify us and Thy ways with us to our souls. May we
experience Thy presence in every fire and furnace, and make us humbly thankful
for Thy Holy Sufferings and perfect obedience. May we rest and lean on Thee,
the Lord, our righteousness and strength. Adonai B S H. 578 The Lord be my
banner. 579 Amen.
15. Though prevented from preaching for two Lord’s Days past by a cold and
cough, yesterday morning the Lord has pitied and strengthened poor, unworthy
me, granting me His aid, and enabling me to preach from John 3.14-15. 580 The
576
The Reverend John Newton (?-1797), who established a number of Presbyterian churches in
Georgia.
577
If referring to the current Dutch Reformed ministers, Westerlo must mean either Dominee Henricus
Schoonmaker (1739-1820), at the time minister of Passaic (Aquackanonck), NJ, or Dominee Martinus
Schoonmaker (1737-1824), then minister of Flatbush, New Utrecht, Flatlands, Bushwick, and
Gravesend, NY. No Schoonmaker became minister in De Boght/Niskayuna in the following years.
578
Hebrew [letters]: God B S H [unknown abbreviation, but logically the phrase is linked to “The
Lord, our righteousness and strength and/or “The Lord be my banner.”]
579
Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar and called it, The Lord is my banner.
580
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that
whoever believes in him may have eternal life. See entry of October 26, 1789.
213